| Weeks before I’m ready to leave on a long | | | | - Leather Jacket preferably one that has a |
| motorcycle trip, I start getting excited. Often I get | | | | removable lining and good ventilation. |
| to the point where I can think of anything else. | | | | - Chaps. Make sure they fit well and are in good |
| Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that I spend | | | | condition. |
| the time getting prepared for it. I usually put this off | | | | - Fingerless gloves and full fingered gloves |
| to the very end. I’ve learned however over | | | | - A couple of extra doo rags. I’m always losing |
| the years that this means that my packing never | | | | those things. |
| matches what I will really need for the trip. Proof, | | | | - Face mask of some sort. I’ve got a |
| last year I was in Sturgis with nothing more than a | | | | windshield on my bike and that protects me most of |
| sweatshirt and leather vest riding around in 45 to 55 | | | | the time but in heavy rain, hail and the cold a |
| degree weather. DUMB MOVE. | | | | neoprene face mask really helps. |
| Anyway, to try to avoid that I’ve started | | | | - Sunglasses and/or goggles. I personally like the |
| putting a list together of the stuff I need to pack for | | | | convertible combos, which can change from |
| every trip and where I want to store it on the | | | | sunglasses to goggles and have interchangeable |
| motorcycle. To help me build the list I put everything | | | | lenses. My personal favorites are the SG-1 from |
| in categories to help keep it a little more organized. | | | | WileyX. |
| The categories I use are: | | | | - Rain Suit. One of those cheap sets from Wally |
| - Things to keep the Motorcycle Rolling | | | | World won’t do. Sure they may keep you dry |
| - Things to keep the Motorcycle Secure | | | | for awhile, but more often than not you’ll get |
| - Things to keep the rider going | | | | 30 miles down the road and the suit will be flying |
| - Protective clothing and gear (Riding Gear) | | | | behind you like streamers. Don’t skimp here. A |
| - Hygiene | | | | couple of bandannas will always come in handy. |
| - Camping Equipment | | | | - If the weather is going to be extremely hot then a |
| - Miscellaneous Stuff | | | | polymer crystal cooling bandanna is a great piece of |
| Things to keep the Motorcycle Rolling | | | | gear to be carrying. I usually carry this in a small |
| Regardless of your mechanical skills, on long trips you | | | | baggie that helps keep it fresh and keeps other |
| will usually end up having to fix something on your | | | | things from getting wet from it when not in use. |
| motorcycle. It’s just the nature of | | | | Of course as has been said millions of times |
| motorcycles. At a bare minimum I always carry tire | | | | “Dressing in layers is the way to go”. |
| patch and CO2 cartridges to perform those road side | | | | Being able to add layers and take off layers can |
| tire problems and hope I don’t have far to go | | | | substantially add to your riding comfort. As far as |
| till the next motorcycle shop. If the shop is a fair | | | | clothing is concerned keep it to a minimum. Carry |
| distance away you should have tools that would | | | | enough for a few days and plan wash stops into |
| allow you to remove the tire and hitch a ride. Since I | | | | your trip. This will help keep your load manageable. |
| ride a Harley Davidson (not balanced and not | | | | The key is to pack for all the conditions you are likely |
| rubber-mounted) I always carry a complete set of | | | | to run into but keep the load as sparse as possible. |
| wrenches, Torx, and Allen wrenches, along with a | | | | Get creative and figure out multiple uses for different |
| bottle of LocTite to tighten up those parts that think | | | | pieces of clothing and the best way to extend the |
| it would be better to end up on the side of the road. | | | | wear-ability of the clothes. After all if you get caught |
| I also carry a small multi-tool that includes a small LED | | | | in the rain without your rainsuit, those clothes are |
| flashlight because it seems I always breakdown after | | | | good for another day. Aren’t they? |
| dark. In my tool pouch you can almost (important | | | | Hygiene |
| word there) always find extra fuses, an extra | | | | Even a scummy old biker like me likes to clean up |
| sparkplug and extra light bulbs. And the two most | | | | every once in awhile. And since I often alternate |
| important things, zip ties and electrical tape. After all | | | | between camping and motels I carry things to wash |
| with those you can fix just about anything that | | | | up with. These would include a towel, washcloth and |
| would keep you from making it down the road. | | | | those little bars of soap and bottles of shampoo you |
| I’ve found that for most brands of | | | | can get at most motels. It helps that in my day job I |
| motorcycles you can find pre-packaged tool pouches | | | | travel all the time so I’ve got a life time supply |
| that have a good set of tools lined up for you. | | | | of those. |
| Sometimes the quality of the tools may be | | | | I’m also trying to keep the last few remaining |
| questionable, but hey all they’re going to do is | | | | teeth that I have so that means I have to carry my |
| ride around in your saddlebags and they’ll do in | | | | toothbrush and toothpaste. Since I’ve got long |
| a pinch. | | | | hair I have to carry a brush to get the rat’s |
| Things to keep the Motorcycle Secure | | | | nest that forms in my hair every day out. Usually on |
| If you plan your trips like me (NOT) you don’t | | | | long trips I don’t shave, but I always have a |
| always end up staying at the most reputable | | | | razor with me. I just use the soap to lather up on |
| establishments. It’s always a good idea to lock | | | | my face instead of carrying shaving cream. |
| your bike and have some way of locking the wheels. | | | | One last item you should never leave without is toilet |
| At least that way you’ll keep the lazy | | | | paper. There’s nothing worse than suddenly |
| motorcycle thieves from getting away with your | | | | needing it when you’re out on the road and |
| bike. I always carry two keys for every lock with | | | | not having it. I usually start out with a small quantity |
| me when I travel. There’s the ones that I | | | | which would take care of the duties a couple of |
| carry in my pocket or attached to my belt, and the | | | | times. If I end up using that up, I usually restock |
| ones I carry deep in my bag for when I lose the | | | | courtesy of the next gas stop or hotel. |
| other ones. As for disc lock I really recommend them. | | | | All of this is carried in a small bag that I always have |
| They are small, strong and provide a pretty good | | | | packed so I never have to worry about it. If I use |
| deterrent. They don’t however address the | | | | something, I replace it and it’s a thoughtless |
| case where someone comes with a lift and just hauls | | | | act to throw that in the T-Bags. |
| your bike away. For that you need to carry a heavy | | | | Camping Equipment |
| duty cable or chain lock to tie your bike to a solid | | | | Camping equipment is probably one of the hardest |
| structure. I personally don’t like these due to | | | | things to carry and pack on a motorcycle. This is |
| the bulk and weight that they add to the saddlebags, | | | | based mostly on the fact that it usually bulky and |
| but then I have pretty good insurance to replace the | | | | doesn’t necessarily pack down real well. Even |
| motorcycle if it’s stolen. | | | | when they pack down the bags seem to be longer |
| Things to keep the rider going | | | | than you would want. They usually end up being to |
| Taking care of the rider is every bit, if not more so, | | | | tall if you tie them on standing up, or to wide if you |
| important as keeping the motorcycle going. When we | | | | try to have them laying down. |
| are out there in the wind there are millions of things | | | | For a tent, I’ve found that the small two man |
| that affect our ability to be comfortable and safe. | | | | dome tents work best. They are easy to set up, |
| Some of these I’ve discussed in other articles. | | | | have plenty of room to spread out in at night (if |
| First and foremost we need to make sure that we | | | | there’s only one person in it), and they pack |
| are protected from the sun. Getting sunburned on | | | | down pretty nice. My tent originally came in a flimsy |
| your arms, hands and face can absolutely ruin a good | | | | nylon bag that I knew would hold up to rolling down |
| day of riding. I carry a stick sunscreen that has a | | | | the road so I replaced the bag with a sturdier one. |
| SPF-30 rating and is waterproof and dries instantly. I | | | | My tent is usually bungeed onto my T-Bag and |
| use it on any skin that I have exposed to the sun. In | | | | additional one to attach it to the motorcycle. |
| addition I always carry a lip balm. Chapped lips can be | | | | On the other side of the T-Bag, I have my mattress. |
| a very painful thing on the road. | | | | As the years have gone by that ground has gotten |
| Both sunburn and chapped lips can sneak up on you | | | | harder and harder. I use one of those self-inflating |
| without you being aware of it. Other things that I | | | | mattresses that blow themselves up. While |
| pack are a first aid kit that includes bandages, pain | | | | they’re not the most comfortable, it sure beat |
| reliever and antiseptic ointments. Injuries on the road | | | | sleeping on the ground. In the morning all you have to |
| can become infected very easy due to the road grim | | | | do is open the valve, roll it up and it’s ready to |
| that we are constantly hit by. | | | | go. I got a bag to carry the mattress in too. |
| Perhaps my most important piece of equipment is | | | | Miscellaneous Stuff |
| my cell phone. I always carry that with me and make | | | | I’ve always found that carrying cameras on a |
| sure that it’s always charged. Today, there is | | | | motorcycle trip can be a pain. The old styles (film |
| probably no piece of equipment that is more | | | | based) have a tendency to take up to much space. |
| important than a cell phone in case of emergency. I | | | | And the digital camera require to much accessory |
| usually carry a charger for use at night and a 12v car | | | | stuff, like chargers, place to download the pictures |
| charger. Luckily I’ve installed a lighter on my | | | | and such. For a while I was carrying Advantix |
| motorcycle that allows me to charge my phone from | | | | cameras, since they can be relatively small and take |
| the bike. This way I never have to worry about | | | | good quality pictures. Now I’ve never been a |
| being stranded with a dead phone. | | | | fan of the panoramic views but that is available on |
| While I’m talking about phones, please make | | | | them. I’m now carrying a digital camera and |
| sure that you have I.C.E. number coded into your | | | | have bought several different memory cards for it. |
| address book on the phone. I.C.E. numbers are the | | | | This way I can use the cards like regular film and |
| first thing that emergency workers will look for In | | | | don’t have to carry all the stuff to download |
| Case of Emergency. Having these number(s) in your | | | | the pictures until I get home. |
| phone can greatly increase your chances of getting | | | | Other important items are a wallet, credit cards and |
| proper medical care. Two basic considerations for the | | | | money. Can’t keep going without these. And |
| numbers should be: | | | | the one thing that I consider the most important, a |
| | | | notebook and pens. When I’m on a trip |
| 1. Make sure the numbers are current. It won’t | | | | it’s great to be able to keep notes about |
| do any good to have a number that is no longer valid | | | | what you saw, how the motorcycle was running, |
| specified as your ICE. | | | | where I stayed and interesting characters I meet |
| 2. Make sure that the person that answers that call | | | | along the way. It’s also important cause if |
| has some basic knowledge about your medical | | | | you’re like me and suffer from CRAFT disease |
| history. Things like known allergies, blood type and | | | | (write me if you want to know what that stands |
| doctors’ name. By providing this basic | | | | for) it’s a great way to refresh your |
| information the emergency medical workers will be | | | | memories of the trip years from now. |
| able to make much more informed decisions. | | | | Now that the bike’s all loaded up one last thing |
| Protective clothing and gear (Riding Gear) | | | | to remember is that with all the additional weight of |
| On long trips you are most likely going to hit every | | | | the stuff you’re carrying the motorcycle is |
| kind of conceivable weather. No matter how hot it | | | | likely to handle differently. Remember to try to keep |
| may get in the middle of that sunny summer day, | | | | the weight as low and as close to the center of the |
| there’s probably some cold miserable weather | | | | motorcycle as possible. This will help keep the front |
| waiting out there for you. If you’re in the | | | | wheel from getting to light or making the motorcycle |
| middle of the desert you’re sure to run into | | | | a little top heavy. Make sure everything is strapped |
| some rain. After all you are on a motorcycle. To be | | | | on real well. Good straps and bungies will give you a |
| prepared, I save all of the space in my saddlebags | | | | good dose of peace of mind knowing that your load |
| for riding gear. My usual list is: | | | | is secure. |
| - My colors. Can’t ride a bike without those. | | | | |